Old Boys begin premiership quest

Last years competition was the tightest in recent seasons with only two points separating the top four, and the anticipation is for a similarly tight competition with North Tamworth and City United both slated for better seasons.

The Redbacks look like being the big improvers, new TDCA Ben Middlebrook said, with Brendan Rixon back for them. They’ve also picked up a couple of overseas recruits. 

As have City, along with Armidale keeper-batsmen Brad Smith.

West Tamworth have also boosted their stocks with Inverell’s Tom Scoble and Sage Cook linking up with them. 

Souths have also picked up the services of one of the regions most talented youngsters in the form of Narrabri allrounder Ryan Meppem.

They have though lost Nick Leyden, and will also be missing skipper Tom Groth for the first round.

Bective-East will be relying heavily on youth after losing some of their most seasoned-campaigners.

“We’ve lost quite a few players,” skipper Adam Jones said rattling off Jake Everett, Brad Jenkinson, James Bellamy and James Haling.

Haling is playing for them this season but is expected to be out for about three months after breaking his cheekbone at the recent Masters Nationals, where he was representing NSW.

“(But) It’s an opportunity for the young blokes coming through to get a go,” Jones said.

The likes of Tyson Rennie, Toby Whale and Jye Paterson were given their opportunity last season and thrived.

Old Boys aren’t unscathed either and have lost spinner Will Chesterfield and Chris Coulton.

On the flip side they’ve picked up Jamie Mitchell from Gunnedah.

“He’s been thinking about it for a few years now,” Middlebrook said.

“He’ll be big for us. He’s a very good player.” 

He’ll be another stabilising influence in the middle order and add to what is already a strong batting line-up.

“We’ll be pretty competitive with the bat. Hopefully the bowlers can do the job with the ball,” Middlebrook said.

“Our bowling will be a bit different. We’ve lost one of our most influential bowlers in Chesty (Chesterfield).” 

Syed Ali and Ronnie Hossain are also poised to make their first grade debuts over the weekend, while Jack Richards is just back from what Middlebrook understands was a pretty good season over in England.

Middlebrook is expecting batting to be pretty tough. With all the wet weather leading up there will be a bit in the decks.

The weather is one of several issues the association has had to negotiate leading into the season. Middlebrook was only instated as president about a month ago after some upheaval saw a new committee elected.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do on and off the field,” Middlebrook admitted.

It will be a big weekend for Old Boys. On Sunday they’ll play Armidale in the first round of the Country Plate.